Car battery care tips

The most crucial component of a car, the battery, which gets it moving is often ignored or overlooked. This can prove to be costly and troublesome on the road. Do not take a car battery for granted.

The battery in a car cranks the engine when the key is turned in the ignition. So, no matter how well the car is maintained. If the battery is not treated correctly the car will not get on the road. Taking care of the battery is simple, easy and inexpensive. Read the following tips to keep the battery in your car always ready to crank.

1. Turn off electric devices in the car. Take the key out of the ignition.
2. Prior to handling your car batteries remove all kinds of metal accessories from your body such as watches with metal straps, metal jewellery like bracelets, bangles, rings, etc. to prevent short-circuit if these items by chance touch the positive terminal of the battery.
3. Clean the top of the battery with solution of a cup of water and a tablespoon of baking soda. Use an old toothbrush to remove corrosion and build up from the battery posts and cables.
4. A battery meter can be used to test the voltage of the battery, if it reads 12.5 volts the battery is fine. If it’s lower the battery is undercharged and needs to be charged.
5. Remove the covers of the battery cells, and make sure that the wells are at least half full with electrolyte fluid. If the fluid is low fill the wells up with distilled water. Let the distilled water mix with the electrolyte fluid for a while before starting the car.
6. Use only distilled water as tap water will eventually reduce the battery’s potential.
7. Choose the right kind of battery for the weather conditions in which the car will be driven the most.
8.  If the headlight beam turns yellowish it’s time to charge the battery or have it replaced all together.
9.  If the ignition takes a while to crank the car and the key has to be held in the start position for a bit before the engine starts, it’s time to get a new battery.

Take the following steps to ensure long battery life for your car

1. Do not leave the headlights on for a long time after the engine has been turned off.
2. Do not leave the key in the ignition of the car overnight as some electrical devise may remain on and can discharge the battery by the morning.
3. Never let rust remain on the battery terminals for too long.
4. Do not leave interior lights on overnight, make sure all lights have been turned off and any other electrical accessories have been turned off before locking the car.
5. Car batteries have a limited life span. Check the lifespan of your car battery and have it replaced before the lifespan comes to an end.
6. If the car is not going to be used for a long time. Disconnect the battery from the car hand remove it from the car altogether. This ensures that the battery will not get discharged when the vehicle is not used.

Maintaining a battery and monitoring the health of the battery will ensure that there will never come a situation when the car will not start at the traffic lights and cause you embarrassment. Or worse get you stuck in the middle of nowhere and help is not at hand. Never ignore the importance of maintaining a car battery as it will cost more to buy a new battery rather than maintaining an old one.